Trainer Barb Joseph says she's "coping well with being on my own" as she prepares to make her return to Thoroughbred Park after serving a one month ban from the sport.
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Joseph and her sons, Paul and Matthew Jones, appealed a four-month ban by Racing NSW after being found guilty of failing to provide veterinary treatment to four-year-old I Am Rocky, before the horse died due to a colitis-related illness in February.
The four-month suspensions Paul and Matthew Jones held, while Joseph had her ban cut to one month and returned to training work earlier in September.
Trainers Rob Potter and Thomas Lyttle stepped in to train the stables' horses in Canberra and the Sapphire Coast while Joseph served her ban.
"I'm coping well with being on my own," Joseph said.
"Rob Potter, Thomas Lyttle and the staff have done a wonderful job."
Joseph has entered nine horses across six races for Friday's meet at Thoroughbred Park, including Trapper Tom, Reign Over Me and Vellichor in race nine.
Joseph said Vellichor and Moss the Boss, in the handicap (1400 metres), are the stables' best chances for the meeting, with both horses finishing third in their last starts.
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The trainer will also host 285 owners in the Silk Room for the annual Joseph Racing Race Day, with Sky Racing's Shawn Cosgrove to announce the event.
"It's like having a wedding every year," Joseph said.
"Everyone likes to have their horses running if they can.
"It would be nice to have a couple of winners and if they don't win then I hope they just run well, that's the main thing."
Joseph Racing Race Day will also be the first to feature a nine races at Thoroughbred Park as Canberra Racing Club look to boost the overall turnover received during race meetings.
The club will still hold the same number of races across the year with meetings between April and June to hold seven races each.
"I think it's a great idea because it gives you a bit more spread with your horses," Joseph said. "There's definitely more opportunities for races and gives each horse a chance."
Keith Dryden will field ten runners across seven races, including Eve's Miss in the Federal. The five-year-old mare came second in the $40,000 race last meeting, finishing 0.57 lengths behind I Am Kalani.
SCORSES' SAUCE
Former leading jockey John Scorse provides all the tips you need for Canberra's race meet on Friday.
Best bet: Race 7, No.6 Hilltop Hood: Has been bought along patiently and form this preparation first class, well drawn and like him out to this trip, very hard to beat.
Best roughie: Race 9, No.8 Express Courier: Big performance first try this trip behind a smart mare, can surprise at big odds here.
Race one: 1st: No.1 Girls Are Ready: Smart filly set to peak third up, perfectly graded and beautifully weighted after the claim, blinkers a key addition. 2nd: No.7 Apicius: Both runs city and provincial last preparation, fitted up with two trials and blinkers come off. 3rd: No.4 Navy Cross: Failed to fire both runs but well bred and has had three trials. 4th: No.5 Brennaman: Place Claims.
Race two: 1st: No.4 Swan Island: Overall form very strong for this, looks the one to beat. 2nd: No.3 Destinato: In the market but trapped deep on debut, always respect the stable. 3rd: No.8 Silk Touch: In the market but trapped deep on debut, always respect the stable. 4th: No.7 Mahjong Rose: Next best.
Race three: 1st: No.9 Enjoy The Stars: Her record should read much better than it does, luckless on a few occasions, reacts fresh. 2nd: No.2 Polar Star: Free running type who can lead from gate 1, race fit and claim helps. 3rd: No.1 Exaggerate: Forgive the first up failure from wide gate, should be improved and back in grade. 4th: No.7 Pinch Memory: Place claims.
Race four: 1st: No.4 Heaven On Earth: Strong performance to win this T/D last time, can repeat the dose from good gate. 2nd: No.1 Waiheke: Looked in need of the hit out first up when just missed, hard to beat here. 3rd: No.6 Away She Goes: Romped in last time in Class 2 company, chance again. 4th: No.3 Gotta Want It: Smart mare on the up, don't take lightly.
Race five: 1st: No.4 Litchfield: Set to peak third up in much easier race, will need luck but can win if he gets it. 2nd: No.2 Time Stamp: On debut from the leading yard and has to be respected. 3rd: No.11 Lots of Dosh: Well travelled mare resuming for new yard, chance if ready. 4th: No.6 Bullet Raiders: Next best.
Race six: 1st: No.2 Flight Commander: Form this preparation very good, out to the 1200m is the key to him. 2nd: No.1 Head Spins: Dominant win on debut, ideally drawn and can repeat the dose. 3rd: No.6 Tochatchacod: Nice type who is on the improve, can win with the right run. 4th: No.4 Zaromatic: Place claims at good odds.
Race seven: 1st: No.6 Hilltop Hood: Has come back very well this preparation, ideally drawn and should take plenty of beating here. 2nd: No.8 Confidential: Has his foot right on the till, will be back but has a strong finish. 3rd: No.10 Sweet Knuckle: Back to her best with strong win last time, extra distance looks ideal. 4th: No.7 So It Is: Next best.
Race eight: 1st: No.14 Revitup Rednut: Racing very well this preparation, big effort last time in the highway and can win with the right breaks. 2nd: No.13 Denmiss: Well suited third run this preparation, will finish strongly here. 3rd: No.10 Sausedge: Smart mare second up here, chance with the right run. 4th: No.6 Ons Vier: Next best.
Race nine: 1st: No.2 Who's Shout: Form this preparation first class, finds the right race and he is the one they have to beat. 2nd: No.8 Express Courier: Still a maiden but looks close to a win, ran into a smart one last time. 3rd: No.5 Miss Anabanana: Will run forward and inject good speed here. 4th: No.4 Majella: Has claims here.